Network allocation vector settings for multi-user operation

ABSTRACT

Methods, computer readable media, and wireless apparatuses are disclosed for setting network allocation vectors (NAV) for multi-user (MU) operation. An apparatus of a wireless device is disclosed. The apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to: decode a preamble portion of a frame, and if the preamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) comprising a transmission opportunity (TXOP) duration field and a media access control (MAC) portion of the frame is not decoded, set one or more NAVs based on the TXOP duration field. The processing circuitry may be further configured to: decode a MAC portion of the frame, and if the MAC portion of the frame comprises a MAC duration field, set the one or more NAVs based on the MAC duration field.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119(e) toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/278,010, filed Jan. 13,2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments pertain to wireless networks and wireless communications.Some embodiments relate to wireless local area networks (WLANs) andWi-Fi networks including networks operating in accordance with the IEEE802.11 family of standards. Some embodiments relate to IEEE 802.1 lax.Some embodiments relate to methods, computer readable media, andapparatus for network allocation vectors (NAVs) settings for multi-useroperation.

BACKGROUND

Efficient use of the resources of a wireless local-area network (WLAN)is important to provide bandwidth and acceptable response times to theusers of the WLAN. However, often there are many devices trying to sharethe same resources and some devices may be limited by the communicationprotocol they use or by their hardware bandwidth. Moreover, wirelessdevices may need to operate with both newer protocols and with legacydevice protocols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a WLAN in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a HE physical-layer convergence procedure (PLCP)protocol data unit (PPDU) in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a HE PPDU in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a HE PPDU in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a HE PPDU in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a packet in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of setting NAVs for MU operation inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates setting NAVs for MU operation in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of setting NAVs for MU operation inaccordance with some embodiments; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine upon which anyone or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein mayperform.

DESCRIPTION

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustratespecific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practicethem. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical,process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodimentsmay be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments.Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalentsof those claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a WLAN 100 in accordance with some embodiments. TheWLAN may comprise a basis service set (BSS) 100 that may include amaster station 102, which may be an AP, a plurality of high-efficiency(HE) (e.g., IEEE 802.11ax) stations 104, and a plurality of legacy(e.g., IEEE 802.11n/ac) devices 106.

The master station 102 may be an AP using one of the IEEE 802.11protocols to transmit and receive. The master station 102 may be a basestation. The master station 102 may use other communications protocolsas well as the IEEE 802.11 protocol. The IEEE 802.11 protocol may beIEEE 802.11 ax. The IEEE 802.11 protocol may include using orthogonalfrequency division multiple-access (OFDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), and/or code division multiple access (CDMA). The IEEE802.11 protocol may include a multiple access technique. For example,the IEEE 802.11 protocol may include space-division multiple access(SDMA) and/or multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO).The master station 102 and/or HE station 104 may use one or both ofMU-MIMO and OFDMA. There may be more than one master station 102 that ispart of an extended service set (ESS). A controller (not illustrated)may store information that is common to the more than one master station102. The controller may have access to an external network such as theInternet.

The legacy devices 106 may operate in accordance with one or more ofIEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad/af/ah/aj, or another legacy wirelesscommunication standard. The legacy devices 106 may be STAs or IEEE802.11 STAs. The HE stations 104 may be wireless transmit and receivedevices such as cellular telephone, smart telephone, handheld wirelessdevice, wireless glasses, wireless watch, wireless personal device,tablet, or another device that may be transmitting and receiving usingthe IEEE 802.11 protocol such as IEEE 802.11 lax or another wirelessprotocol such as IEEE 802.11az. In some embodiments, the HE stations104, master station 102, and/or legacy devices 106 may be termedwireless devices. In some embodiments the HE station 104 may be a “groupowner” (GO) for peer-to-peer modes of operation where the HE station 104may perform some operations of a master station 102.

The master station 102 may communicate with legacy devices 106 inaccordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques. In exampleembodiments, the master station 102 may also be configured tocommunicate with HE stations 104 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11communication techniques.

In some embodiments, a HE frame may be configurable to have the samebandwidth as a channel. The bandwidth of a channel may be 20 MHz, 40MHz, or 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz contiguous bandwidths or an 80+80 MHz(160 MHz) non-contiguous bandwidth. In some embodiments, the bandwidthof a channel may be 1 MHz, 1.25 MHz, 2.03 MHz, 2.5 MHz, 5 MHz and 10MHz, or a combination thereof or another bandwidth that is less or equalto the available bandwidth may also be used. In some embodiments thebandwidth of the channels may be based on a number of activesubcarriers. In some embodiments the bandwidth of the channels aremultiples of 26 (e.g., 26, 52, 104, etc.) active subcarriers or tonesthat are spaced by 20 MHz. In some embodiments the bandwidth of thechannels are 26, 52, 104, 242, etc. active data subcarriers or tonesthat are space 20 MHz apart. In some embodiments the bandwidth of thechannels is 256 tones spaced by 20 MHz. In some embodiments a 20 MHzchannel may comprise 256 tones for a 256 point Fast Fourier Transform(FFT). In some embodiments, a different number of tones is used.

A HE frame may be configured for transmitting a number of spatialstreams, which may be in accordance with MU-MIMO. In some embodiments, aHE frame may be configured for transmitting in accordance with one orboth of OFDMA and MU-MIMO. In other embodiments, the master station 102,HE station 104, and/or legacy device 106 may also implement differenttechnologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000, CDMA2000 IX, CDMA 2000 Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), Interim Standard2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856(IS-856), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobilecommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSMEDGE (GERAN), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX)), BlueTooth®, WiMAX, WiGig, or othertechnologies.

Some embodiments relate to HE communications. In accordance with someIEEE 802.1 lax embodiments, a master station 102 may operate as a masterstation which may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium (e.g.,during a contention period) to receive exclusive control of the mediumfor an HE control period. In some embodiments, the HE control period maybe termed a transmission opportunity (TXOP). The master station 102 maytransmit a HE master-sync transmission, which may be a trigger frame orHE control and schedule transmission, at the beginning of the HE controlperiod. The master station 102 may transmit a time duration of the TXOPand channel information. During the HE control period, HE stations 104may communicate with the master station 102 in accordance with anon-contention based multiple access technique such as OFDMA and/orMU-MIMO. This is unlike conventional WLAN communications in whichdevices communicate in accordance with a contention-based communicationtechnique, rather than a multiple access technique. During the HEcontrol period, the master station 102 may communicate with HE stations104 using one or more HE frames. During the HE control period, the HESTAs 104 may operate on a channel smaller than the operating range ofthe master station 102. During the HE control period, legacy stationsrefrain from communicating.

In accordance with some embodiments, during the master-sync transmissionthe HE STAs 104 may contend for the wireless medium with the legacydevices 106 being excluded from contending for the wireless mediumduring the master-sync transmission or TXOP. In some embodiments thetrigger frame may indicate an uplink (UL) UL-MU-MIMO and/or UL OFDMAcontrol period. In some embodiments, the trigger frame may indicate aportions of the TXOP that are contention based for some HE station 104and portions that are not contention based.

In some embodiments, the multiple-access technique used during the HEcontrol period may be a scheduled OFDMA technique, although this is nota requirement. In some embodiments, the multiple access technique may bea time-division multiple access (TDMA) technique or a frequency divisionmultiple access (FDMA) technique. In some embodiments, the multipleaccess technique may be a space-division multiple access (SDMA)technique.

In example embodiments, the HE device 104 and/or the master station 102are configured to perform the methods and operations herein described inconjunction with FIGS. 1-10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a HE physical-layer convergence procedure (PLCP)protocol data unit (PPDU) 200 in accordance with some embodiments. TheHE PPDU 200 may be a HE single user (SU) PPDU format. The HE PPDU 200may include a preamble 252 and a MAC 254. The preamble 252 may include alegacy portion 256 and a HE portion 258. The legacy portion 256 mayinclude a legacy short training field (L-STF) 202, a legacy longtraining field (L-LTF) 204, a legacy signal field (L-SIG) 206, which maybe modified for HE, and a repeated L-SIG (RL-SIG) 208. The HE portionmay include a first high-efficiency (HE) signal field (HE-SIG-A) 210, aHE short training field (HE-STF) 212, and one or more HE long-trainingfields SIG (HE-LTFs) 214 through HE-LTF 216, which may have variabledurations per HE-LTF symbol. The HE-SIG-A 210 field may include atransmission opportunity (TXOP) duration. The TXOP duration may be 7bits. Data 218 may include a MAC 254 portion of the PPDU 200. The MAC254 portion may be a physical layer service data unit (PSDU). The packetextension (PE) 220 may be an extension of the PPDU 200, e.g. forpre-forward error correction (FEC) padding boundaries.

FIG. 3 illustrates a HE PPDU 300 in accordance with some embodiments.The HE PPDU 300 may be a HE multi user (MU) PPDU format. The HE PPDU 300may include a preamble 352 and a MAC 354. The preamble 352 may include alegacy portion 356 and a HE portion 358. The legacy portion 356 mayinclude a L-STF 302, a L-LTF 304, a L-SIG 306, which may be modified forHE, and a repeated L-SIG (RL-SIG) 308. The HE portion may include aHE-SIG-A 310, a HE-SIG-B 312 field, a HE-STF 314, and one or moreHE-LTFs 316 through HE-LTF 318, which may have variable durations perHE-LTF symbol. The HE-SIG-A 310 field may include a TXOP duration. TheTXOP duration may be 7 bits. In some embodiments, the TXOP duration maybe between 5 and 10 bits. The HE-SIG-B 312 field may include a downlink(DL) resource allocation for one or more HE stations 104, which mayinclude identifications of one or more HEW stations 104. Data 320 may bea MAC 354 portion of the PPDU 300. The MAC 354 portion may be a PSDU.The PE 320 may be an extension of the PPDU 300, e.g. for pre-FEC paddingboundaries.

FIG. 4 illustrates a HE PPDU 400 in accordance with some embodiments.The HE PPDU 400 may be a HE extended range SU PPDU format. The HE PPDU400 may include a preamble 452 and a MAC 454. The preamble 452 mayinclude a legacy portion 456 and a HE portion 458. The legacy portion456 may include a L-STF 402, a L-LTF 404, a L-SIG 406, which may bemodified for HE, and a RL-SIG 408. The HE portion may include a HE-SIG-A410, a HE-STF 412, and one or more HE-LTFs 414 through HE-LTF 416, whichmay have variable durations per HE-LTF symbol. The HE-SIG-A 410 fieldmay include a TXOP duration. The TXOP duration may be 7 bits. In someembodiments, the TXOP duration may be between 5 and 10 bits. Data 418may be a MAC 454 portion of the PPDU 400. The MAC 454 portion include aPSDU. The PE 420 may be an extension of the PPDU 400, e.g. for pre-FECpadding boundaries.

FIG. 5 illustrates a HE PPDU 500 in accordance with some embodiments.The HE PPDU 500 may be a HE trigger-based PPDU format. The HE PPDU 500may include a preamble 552 and a MAC 554. The preamble 552 may include alegacy portion 556 and a HE portion 558. The legacy portion 556 mayinclude a L-STF 502, a L-LTF 504, a L-SIG 506, which may be modified forHE, and a RL-SIG 508. The HE portion may include a HE-SIG-A 510, aHE-STF 512, and one or more HE-LTFs 514 through HE-LTF 516, which mayhave variable durations per HE-LTF symbol. The HE-SIG-A 510 field mayinclude a TXOP duration. The TXOP duration may be 7 bits. In someembodiments, the TXOP duration may be between 5 and 10 bits. Data 518may be a MAC 554 portion of the PPDU 500. The MAC 554 portion may be aPSDU. The PE 520 may be an extension of the PPDU 500, e.g. for pre-FECpadding boundaries.

FIG. 6 illustrates a packet 600 in accordance with some embodiments. Thepacket 600 includes a legacy portion 604, HE portion 606, MAC portion608, and tail portion 610. In some embodiments, the packet 600 may be HEPPDU 200 and/or a HE SU PPDU format. In some embodiments, the packet 600may be HE PPDU 300 and/or a HE MU PPDU format. In some embodiments, thepacket 600 may be a HE PPDU 400 and/or a HE extended range SU PPDUformat. In some embodiments, the packet 600 may be HE PPDU 500 and/or aHE trigger-based PPDU format.

The packet 600 may include a transmitter address (TA) 612 field,receiver address (RA) field, color 616 field, HE-SIG-A duration 618field, a MAC duration 620 field, an indication to decode MAC 622 field,and/or an information field 624. The TA 612 field may be part of the MACportion 608 and may indicate a transmitter of the packet 600. The RA 614field may be an intended receiver of the packet 600 address. The RA 614field may be part of the MAC portion 608. The color 616 field may be anindication of a BSS. The color 616 field may be part of the HE portion606 and/or the legacy portion 604. The HE-SIG-A duration 618 field maybe a duration indicated in the HE portion 606. For example, the HE-SIG-Aduration 618 field may be a 7 bit field in a HE-SIG-A field of the HEportion 606. For example, HE-SIG-A duration 618 field may be part ofHE-SIG-A 210 field, HE-SIG-A 310 field, HE-SIG-A 410 field, or HE-SIG-A510 field. The master station 102 and/or the HEW stations 104 may beconfigured to round up from an actual duration of the packet 600 or aTXOP. MAC duration 620 field may be a duration field in the MAC portion608 of the packet 600. The MAC duration 620 field may be more bits thanthe HE-SIG-A duration 618 field. Because the MAC duration 620 field maybe more bits, the MAC duration 620 field may be more accurate than theHE-SIG-A duration 618 field.

The HE-SIG-A 618 field may indicate a greater duration than the MACduration 620 field because the HE station 104 and/or master station 102may be configured to round up an actual duration due to the fewer bitsof the HE-SIG-A duration 618 field compared with the MAC duration 620field. For example, 7 bits for HE-SIG-A duration 618 field and 11 or 12bits for the MAC duration 620. The indication to decode MAC 622 fieldmay be an indication in the HE portion 606 that a HE station 104 and/ormaster station 102 should decode the MAC portion 608. For example, theindication to decode MAC 622 field may be an address indication of theHE station 104 and/or master station 102 that indicates there is aresource allocation and/or a request in the MAC portion 608 for the HEstation 104 and/or master station 102 to UL or DL data. In someembodiments, the indication to decode MAC 622 may be indicated by avalue of the color 616 field.

The information field 624 may be an indication of HE stations 104 thatare to participate in a MU UL data. The information field 624 may bepart of the preamble 602 and/or the MAC portion 608.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 of setting NAVs for MU operation inaccordance with some embodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 7 is time 770along a horizontal axis, transmitters 706 along a vertical axis,operations 750 along the top, and durations 760 along the top. The AP702 may be a master station 102 and/or HEW station 104. The STAs 1, 2,3, and 4, 704.1, 704.2, 704.3, and 704.4, respectively may be masterstations 102 and/or HEW stations 104.

The method 700 begins at operation 752 with the AP 702 transmitting HEPHY 714. The HE PHY 714 is part of the frame 715. The frame 715 mayinclude a HE PHY header portion (e.g., HE PHY 714) and a HE MAC portion(e.g., trigger frame for STA3 716). The MAC portion may be a PSDU. Theframe 715 may be, for example, HE PPDU 200, 300, 400, or 500, or frame600.

The HE PHY 714 may be received by STAs 704. The STAs 704 may be attachedto the AP 702. The HE PHY 714 comprises a HE PHY duration 710 and anindication 711 of STA3 704.3. The HE PHY duration 710 may be indicatedin a HE-SIG-B field. The HE PHY duration 710 may be TXOP duration, e.g.duration of HE PHY duration 713, which extends to time 772 or 773. Theindication 711 field may be an indication in a HE-SIG-B field that STA3704.3 should decode a MAC portion of the frame 715, e.g. it may indicatethat STA3 704.3 is to receive a DL data and/or may receive a resourceallocation for UL data. In some embodiments, indication 711 field is aninformation field 624. In some embodiments, STA3 704.3 will not set itsNAV because of the indication 711 field.

Operation 752 continues with the AP 702 transmitting trigger frame forSTA3 716. For example, trigger frame for STA3 716 may be the MAC portion554 of a HE PPDU 500. The trigger frame for STA3 716 may be a PSDU. Insome embodiments, STA3 704.3 may not receive the trigger frame for STA3716. In some embodiments, STA3 704.3 will set its NAV to the duration710 since it was not able to decode the trigger frame for STA3 716 eventhough trigger frame for STA3 716 was indicated in the HE PHY 714 byindication 711 field. The trigger frame for STA3 716 may include a MACduration 712 field, which may have more bits than the HE PHY duration710 field. The MAC duration 712 field may be different than the HE PHYduration 710 field because the HE PHY duration 710 field may use fewerbits to represent the duration, and the HE PHY duration 710 field mayround up. For example, duration of HE PHY duration 713 (e.g., durationof the HE PHY 714 field) aqmay extend to time 773 and duration of MACduration 715 (e.g., duration of the MAC duration 712 field) may onlyextend to time 774. The HE PHY duration 710 and MAC duration 712 mayextend to the same time 772 and 774 depending on how the HE PHY 773rounds up the duration and depending on the actual duration (e.g., totime 774 or 772).

The method 700 continues at operation 754 with STAs 1, 2, 4, 704.1,704.2, and 702.4, respectively, transmitting UL MU 720 to the AP 702.Each of STA1 704.1, STA2 704.2, and STA4 704.4 received a resourceallocation in the frame 715. STA3 704.3 does not transmit in the UL MU720 because it was unable to decode the MAC portion (trigger frame forSTA3 716).

The method 700 continues at operation 756 with the AP 702 transmittingMU-block acknowledgement (MU-BA) 718. The AP 702 sends MU-BA 718 to STA1, 2, 4, 704.1, 704.2, and 704.3, respectively. The method 700 may end,and the NAV of STA 3 704.3 may end at time 772. In some embodiments, ifSTA 3 704.3 decodes the trigger frame for STA3 716, then the STA 3 704.3may receive a resource allocation for UL MU 720 and not set its NAV. Insome embodiments, the HE PHY duration of 710 and/or MAC duration 712 maybe longer to include addition operations.

FIG. 8 illustrates setting NAVs for MU operation in accordance with someembodiments. Illustrated in FIG. 8 is the transmission range 802 of aBSS, the transmission range 804 of an overlapping BSS (OBSS), masterstations 102, transmission 882, HEW stations 104, legacy devices 106,intra-BSS NAV 812 and regular NAVs 814. Master station 102.1 may be themaster station 102.1 of transmission range 802 of BSS. Master station102.2 may be the master station 102.2 of transmission range 804 of OBSS.Transmission 882 may be a frame from one of the legacy devices 106,master stations 102, or HEW stations 104, e.g. transmission 882 may be apacket 600, HE PPDU 200, a HE SU PPDU, HE PPDU 300, a HE MU PPDU, a HEPPDU 400, a HE extended range SU PPDU, MU-RTS, and/or a HE trigger-basedPPDU. In some embodiments, the transmission 882 may be a legacy frame.

HEW station 104.1 and 104.2 may be attached to master station 102.1. HEWstation 104.3 may be attached to master station 102.2. Legacy device106.1 may be attached to master station 102.1. Legacy device 106.2 maybe attached to master station 102.2.

HEW station 104.2 includes an intra-BSS NAV 812 and a regular NAV 814 inaccordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments HEW station 104.2includes only the NAV 813, which, in some embodiments is termed aregular NAV.

The HEW station 104.2 may be configured to associate with a materstation 102.1. The HEW station 104.2 may then decode a packet from themaster station 102.1. The packet may include an address of the masterstation 102.1 (e.g., transmitter address 612) and/or a BSS color (e.g.,color 616 field). The HEW station 104.2 may set a BSS identification(BSSID) as the address of the master station 102.1 and/or may store theBSS color. A transmission opportunity (TXOP) holder address may be thetransmitter address 612.

The HEW station 104.2 is illustrated with two embodiments. An embodimentwith an intra-BSS NAV 812 and regular NAV 814, which may be termed NAVin some embodiments, and an embodiment with one NAV 813, which in someembodiments is termed a regular NAV 814. The HEW station 104.2 may beconfigured to not contend if intra-BSS NAV 812 field value or regularNAV 814 field value has not expired (e.g., reached zero). The HEWstation 104.2 may be configured to not contend if NAV 813 field valuehas not expired (e.g., reached zero) if the HEW station 104.2 includesonly one NAV 813. In some embodiments, intra-BSS NAV 812 will not beconsidered for a response to UL MU for the HEW station 104.2. Forexample, the intra-BSS NAV 812 may be set and the HEW station 104.2 mayreceive a transmission 882 that is a trigger frame from the masterstation 102.1. The HEW station 104.2 would may then ignore the intra-BSSNAV 512 being set and respond in accordance with the resource allocationin the UL MU trigger frame.

In some embodiments, the HEW station 104.2 is configured to not use aHE-SIG-A duration 618 field value, if a MAC duration 620 field issuccessfully decoded. In some embodiments, the HEW station 104.2 isconfigured to only update the intra-BSS NAV 812, if a duration of apacket of the transmission 882 is greater than the intra-BSS NAV 812. Insome embodiments, the HEW station 104.2 is configured to only update theregular NAV 814, if a duration of a packet of the transmission 882 isgreater than the regular NAV 814.

In some embodiments, the HEW station 104.2 is configured to not set theNAV 813, if the transmission 882 is a HE PPDU 500 that is a HEtrigger-based PPDU format (e.g., trigger frame or MU-RTS), and the HEWstation 104.2 is identified in an information field 624 of the HE PPDU500, and the HE station 104.2 has only the NAV 813. If the HE station104.2 has both the regular NAV 814 and the intra-BSS NAV 812, and the HEstation 104.2 is identified in an information field of the HE PPDU 500,then the HE station 104.2 updates the intra-BSS NAV 812 based on a MACduration 620 of the HE PPDU 500, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 may have only NAV 813 and maybe configured to update its NAV 813 based on a valid duration decodedfrom a MAC portion 608 of transmission 882 (e.g., MAC duration 620) of apacket 600. If the packet 600 receiver address 614 is the same as a MACaddress of the HE station 104.2 then the HE station 104.2 does notupdate its regular NAV 814 (two NAV embodiment) or NAV 813 (one NAVembodiment). If the transmission 882 is a packet 600 that is a triggerframe or MU-RTS frame, e.g., HE PPDU 500 that is a HE trigger-based PPDUformat, and the HE station 104.2 is identified in the HE trigger-basedPPDU format for a resource allocation (e.g., for UL MU data), then theHE station 104.2 does not set its regular NAV 814 or intra-NAV 812 (twoNAV embodiment) or NAV 813 (one NAV embodiment).

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 may have only NAV 813 and maybe configured to not update its NAV 814 if the transmission 882 is a MUrequest-to-send (RTS) and the HE station 104.2 is indicated in aninformation field 624 that the HE station 104.2 is to participate in theMU-RTS.

In some embodiments, if the transmission 882 is a packet 600 of a typeMU-RTS, then the HE station 104.2 does not set the intra-BSS NAV 812 orthe regular NAV 814 or the NAV 813 in the single NAV embodiment, if theHE station 104.2 is indicated in an information field 624 of the packet600.

If the HE station 104.2 does not decode a valid PSDU of a MAC portion608 of a packet 600 (transmission 882), and the color 616 indicates anintra-BSS packet, then the HE station 104.2 updates NAV 813 if thereceived HE-SIG-A duration 618 field value (e.g., TXOP duration) islonger than the HE station 104.2 current NAV 813 field value. If the HEstation 104.2 has both the regular NAV 812 and the intra-BSS NAV 814,then the HE station 104.2 updates the intra-BSS NAV 814 if the HE-SIG-Aduration 618 field value (e.g., TXOP duration) is longer than the HEstation 104.2 intra-BSS NAV 814 field value.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured as follows: ifthe HE station 104.2 receives a HE-SIG-A duration 618 (e.g., TXOPduration) from a packet 600, but does not decode or successfully decodea MAC portion 608 (e.g., PSDU) of the packet 600, and identifies thepacket 600 as an intra-BSS packet, then the HE station 104.2 updates itsintra-BSS NAV 812 with the HE-SIG-A duration (e.g., TXOP duration) 618,if the HE-SIG-A duration 618 is greater than the intra-BSS NAV 812 ofthe HE station 104.2 and the packet 600 is not a HE trigger based PPDU(e.g., HE PPDU 500) triggered by the HE station 104.2.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured as follows: ifthe HE station 104.2 does not decode the MAC portion 608 or does notdecode a valid MAC duration 620 from a MAC portion 608 and the color 616indicates an inter-BSS packet 600 (e.g., transmitted from master station102.2), the HE station 104.2 updates the regular NAV 814 (for the twoNAV embodiment) if the HE-SIG-B duration 618 is longer than the regularNAV 814. If the HE station 104.2 has NAV 813 (the one NAV embodiment),then the HE station 104.2 updates the NAV 813, if the HE-SIG-B duration618 is longer than the NAV 813.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured as follows: ifthe HE station 104.2 does not decode the MAC portion 608 or does notdecode a valid MAC duration 620 from a MAC portion 608 and the color 616indicates an intra-BSS packet 600 (e.g., transmitted from master station102.2), the HE station 104.2 updates the intra-BSS NAV 812 (for the twoNAV embodiment) if the HE-SIG-B duration 618 is longer than theintra-BSS NAV 812. If the HE station 104.2 has NAV 813 (the one NAVembodiment), then the HE station 104.2 updates the NAV 813, if theHE-SIG-B duration 618 (e.g., TXOP duration) is longer than the NAV 813.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 may be configured as follows:if the HE station 104.2 receives a packet 600 with a HE-SIG-B duration618 and does not successfully decode a MAC portion 608, and identifiesthe packet 600 as an inter-BSS packet or cannot identify whether thepacket 600 is an inter-BSS packet or intra-BSS packet, then the HEstation 104.2 updates its regular NAV 814 with the information from theHE-SIG-B duration 618 if the HE-SIG-B duration 618 is greater than theregular NAV 814 of the HE station 104.2.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured to not set theregular NAV 814, if a received packet 600 is triggered by the HE station104.2 sending a trigger frame (e.g., HE PPDU 500) to another HE station104.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured as follows: ifthe HE station 104.2 does not decode a MAC portion 608 or does notdecode a valid MAC duration 620 from a MAC portion 608 and the color 616indicates an intra-BSS packet 600 (e.g., transmitted from master station102.1), the HE station 104.2 updates the NAV 813 (in the case of anembodiment with one NAV) with a TXOP duration (e.g., HE-SIG-A duration618), if the TXOP duration is greater than the NAV 813. In the case ofthe two NAV embodiment, the HE station 104.2 updates the intra-BSS NAV812 if the TXOP duration is greater than the intra-BSS NAV 812.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured as follows: ifthe HE station 104.2 determines the transmission 882 is an inter BSSframe or an unclassified frame (the HE station 104.2 cannot determinewhether it is intra-BSS frame or inter-BSS frame), and if the HE station104.2 does not decode the MAC portion 608 or does not decode a valid MACduration 620 from a MAC portion 608 and the HE station 104.2 is the twoNAV embodiment with intra-BSS NAV 812 and regular NAV 814, then the HEstation 104.2 updates the regular NAV 814 with the HE-SIG-B duration 618if the HE-SIG-B duration 618 is longer than the regular NAV 814. If theHE station 104.2 has NAV 813 (the one NAV embodiment), then the HEstation 104.2 updates the NAV 813, if the HE-SIG-B duration 618 (e.g.,TXOP duration) is longer than the NAV 813.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured as follows: ifthe HE station 104.2 determines the transmission 882 is in response to atrigger frame or a MU-RTS transmitted by the HE station 104.2, then theHE station 104.2 does not set a NAV based on the transmission 882.

In some embodiments, the HE station 104.2 is configured as follows: ifthe HE station 104.2 does not decode a MAC portion 608 or does notdecode a valid MAC duration 620 from a MAC portion 608, and a HE-SIGfield comprises a TXOP duration field (e.g., HE-SIG-A duration 618), theHE station 104.2 is configured to set NAV 813 based on the TXOP duration(e.g., HE-SIG-A duration 618) or set one of intra-BSS NAV 812 or regularNAV 814 based on the TXOP duration (e.g. HE-SIG-A duration 618.)

FIG. 9 will be disclosed in conjunction with FIG. 8. FIG. 9 illustratesa method 900 of setting NAVs for MU operation in accordance with someembodiments.

The method 900 begins at operation 902 with decoding a preamble portionof a frame. For example, HEW station 104.2 may decode a preamble 252,352, 452, 552, or 602.

The method 900 continues at operation 904 with determining if thepreamble includes a TXOP duration field. For example, preamble 602includes a HE-SIG-A duration 618 field. As another example, preambles252, 352, 452, 552, or 602 may include a HE-SIG-A duration 618 field.Legacy frames (not illustrated) do not include a TXOP duration field.

If the preamble includes a TXOP duration field, then the method 900continues at operation 906 with was a MAC duration field decoded. Forexample, HEW station 104.2 may receive a transmission 882 that is apacket such as packet 600, HE PPDU 200, HE PPDU 300, HE PPDU 400, or HEPPDU 500. The HEW station 104.2 may not receive an indication to decodeMAC 622 or the HEW station 104.2 may attempt to decode the MAC 622 andfail. In some embodiments, if the HEW station 104.2 does receive theindication to decode MAC 622, then the HEW station 104.2 decodes the MACportion, which may include a MAC duration 620.

If the MAC duration field was not decoded, then the method 900 continuesat operation 908 with setting one or more network allocation vectors(NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field. For example, HEW station 104.2may set intra-BSS NAV 812 or regular NAV 814 based on the TXOP durationfield. The method 900 may continue with operation 912 with continuewhere additional operations may be performed.

Returning to operation 904, if the preamble does not include TXOPduration field, then the method 900 may continue to operation 912continue where additional operation may be performed. For example, theHE station 104.2 may determine the packet is a legacy packet anddetermine a NAV or NAVs based on a duration in the legacy portion of thepacket.

Returning to operation 906, if the MAC duration field is decoded, thenthe method 900 continues to operation 910 with set the one or morenetwork allocation vectors (NAVs) based on the MAC duration field. Forexample, the HEW station 104.2 may have the indication to decode MAC622, and the HEW station 104.2 may successfully decode a MAC 254, MAC354, MAC 454, MAC 554, or MAC portion 608. The MAC portion 608 mayinclude a MAC duration 620 and the HE station 104.2 may set a NAV orNAVs based on the MAC duration 620.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine 1000 uponwhich any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussedherein may perform. In alternative embodiments, the machine 1000 mayoperate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) toother machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 1000 may operatein the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both inserver-client network environments. In an example, the machine 1000 mayact as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed)network environment. The machine 1000 may be a master station 102, HEstation 104, personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a smart phone, aweb appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machinecapable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a singlemachine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude any collection of machines that individually or jointly executea set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software asa service (SaaS), other computer cluster configurations.

Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic ora number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangibleentities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations andmay be configured or arranged in a certain manner. In an example,circuits may be arranged (e.g., internally or with respect to externalentities such as other circuits) in a specified manner as a module. Inan example, the whole or part of one or more computer systems (e.g., astandalone, client or server computer system) or one or more hardwareprocessors may be configured by firmware or software (e.g.,instructions, an application portion, or an application) as a modulethat operates to perform specified operations. In an example, thesoftware may reside on a machine readable medium. In an example, thesoftware, when executed by the underlying hardware of the module, causesthe hardware to perform the specified operations.

Accordingly, the term “module” is understood to encompass a tangibleentity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, specificallyconfigured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily (e.g., transitorily)configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a specified manner or toperform part or all of any operation described herein. Consideringexamples in which modules are temporarily configured, each of themodules need not be instantiated at any one moment in time. For example,where the modules comprise a general-purpose hardware processorconfigured using software, the general-purpose hardware processor may beconfigured as respective different modules at different times. Softwaremay accordingly configure a hardware processor, for example, toconstitute a particular module at one instance of time and to constitutea different module at a different instance of time.

Machine (e.g., computer system) 1000 may include a hardware processor1002 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit(GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a mainmemory 1004 and a static memory 1006, some or all of which maycommunicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 1008. Themachine 1000 may further include a display device 1010, an input device1012 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device1014 (e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display device 1010, inputdevice 1012 and UI navigation device 1014 may be a touch screen display.The machine 1000 may additionally include a mass storage (e.g., driveunit) 1016, a signal generation device 1018 (e.g., a speaker), a networkinterface device 1020, and one or more sensors 1021, such as a globalpositioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or othersensor. The machine 1000 may include an output controller 1028, such asa serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired orwireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.)connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices(e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.). In some embodiments the processor1002 and/or instructions 1024 may comprise processing circuitry and/ortransceiver circuitry. The machine 1000 may further include NAV timers1029. The NAV timers 1029 may be configured to operate as describedherein in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8. In some embodiments, the NAVtimers 1029 may be configured to generate an interrupt when NAV1 702reaches zero.

The storage device 1016 may include a machine readable medium 1022 onwhich is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions 1024(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of thetechniques or functions described herein. The instructions 1024 may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 1004,within static memory 1006, or within the hardware processor 1002 duringexecution thereof by the machine 1000. In an example, one or anycombination of the hardware processor 1002, the main memory 1004, thestatic memory 1006, or the storage device 1016 may constitute machinereadable media.

While the machine readable medium 1022 is illustrated as a singlemedium, the term “machine readable medium” may include a single mediumor multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) configured to store the one or moreinstructions 1024.

An apparatus of the machine 1000 may be one or more of a hardwareprocessor 1002 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combinationthereof), a main memory 1004, a static memory 1006, instructions 1024,display device 1010, input device 1012, UI navigation device 1014, massstorage 1016, signal generation 1018, output controller 1028, NAV timers1029, sensors 1021, network interface device 1020, and antennas 1060some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink(e.g., bus) 1008. One or more of the following of the apparatus of themachine 1000 may be separate from the machine 1000 and may be configuredto work in conjunction with the machine 1000, be a portion or componentof the machine 1000: a hardware processor (e.g., a central processingunit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core,or any combination thereof), a main memory, a static memory,instructions, display device, input device, UI navigation device, massstorage, signal generation, output controller, NAV timers, sensors,network interface device, and antennas.

The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that iscapable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution bythe machine 1000 and that cause the machine 1000 to perform any one ormore of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated withsuch instructions. Non-limiting machine readable medium examples mayinclude solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. Specificexamples of machine readable media may include: non-volatile memory,such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically ProgrammableRead-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such asinternal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; RandomAccess Memory (RAM); and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. In some examples,machine readable media may include non-transitory machine readablemedia. In some examples, machine readable media may include machinereadable media that is not a transitory propagating signal.

The instructions 1024 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 1026 using a transmission medium via the networkinterface device 1020 utilizing any one of a number of transferprotocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmissioncontrol protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transferprotocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communication networks may include alocal area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet datanetwork (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellularnetworks), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless datanetworks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16 family ofstandards known as WiMax®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards, a LongTerm Evolution (LTE) family of standards, a Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) family of standards, peer-to-peer (P2P)networks, among others.

In an example, the network interface device 1020 may include one or morephysical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or moreantennas to connect to the communications network 1026. In an example,the network interface device 1020 may include one or more antennas 1060to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-inputmultiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), ormultiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. In some examples, thenetwork interface device 1020 may wirelessly communicate using MultipleUser MIMO techniques. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken toinclude any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding orcarrying instructions for execution by the machine 1000, and includesdigital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium tofacilitate communication of such software.

Various embodiments of the invention may be implemented fully orpartially in software and/or firmware. This software and/or firmware maytake the form of instructions contained in or on a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium. Those instructions may then be readand executed by one or more processors to enable performance of theoperations described herein. The instructions may be in any suitableform, such as but not limited to source code, compiled code, interpretedcode, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Such acomputer-readable medium may include any tangible non-transitory mediumfor storing information in a form readable by one or more computers,such as but not limited to read only memory (ROM); random access memory(RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory,etc.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments. Example 1 is anapparatus of a wireless device including: memory; and processingcircuitry coupled to the memory, the processing circuitry configured to:decode a preamble portion of a frame; and if the preamble portion of theframe comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A)including a transmission opportunity (TXOP) duration field, and a mediaaccess control (MAC) portion of the frame is not decoded, set one ormore network allocation vectors (NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherethe processing circuitry is further configured to: if the MAC portion ofthe frame is decoded and the MAC portion comprises a MAC duration field,set the one or more NAVs based on the MAC duration field.

In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 2 optionally includes wherethe MAC portion is a physical layer convergence (PLCP) service data unit(PSDU).

In Example 4, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 2-3optionally include where the TXOP duration field comprises fewer bitsthan the MAC duration field.

In Example 5, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 2-4optionally include where the frame comprises a receiver address (RA),and where the processing circuitry is further configured to: refrainfrom setting the one or more NAVs if the RA is equal to a MAC address ofthe wireless device.

In Example 6, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-5optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if the frame is a trigger frame, and the wireless device isindicated in an information field of the trigger frame refrain fromsetting the one or more NAVs.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-6optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if the frame is a multi-user (MU) request-to-send (RTS) frame, andthe wireless device is indicated in an information field of the MU-RTSframe, refrain from setting the one or more NAVs.

In Example 8, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-7optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded and a basic service set(BSS) color field of the frame indicates the frame is an intra-BSSframe, and if there is only one NAV, then update the only one NAV withthe TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greater than the only one NAV;and if there is more than one NAV, update an intra-BSS NAV of the one ormore NAVs with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greater thanthe intra-BSS NAV.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-8optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded, and the frame is a notin response to a trigger frame from the wireless device, and if a basicservice set (BSS) color of the frame indicates the frame is an intra-BSSframe, and there is only one NAV, update the NAV with the TXOP durationif the TXOP duration is greater than the NAV; and if there is more thanone NAV, update an intra-BSS NAV of the one or more NAVs with the TXOPduration if the TXOP duration is greater than the intra-BSS NAV.

In Example 10, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-9optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded, and a basic serviceset (BSS) color of the frame indicates the frame is an inter-BSS frame,and if there is only one NAV, then update the only one NAV with the TXOPduration if the TXOP duration is greater than the NAV; and if there ismore than one NAV, update a regular NAV of the one or more NAVs with theTXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greater than the regular NAV.

In Example 11, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-10optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: determine the frame is an inter basic service set (BSS) frame or anunclassified frame; and if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded,and the one or more NAVs is a regular NAV and an intra-BSS NAV, updatethe regular NAV with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greaterthan the regular NAV.

In Example 12, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-11optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if the frame is in response to a trigger frame transmitted by thewireless device, ignore the TXOP duration.

In Example 13, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-12optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if the preamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency(HE) signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) including a transmissionopportunity (TXOP) duration field and a media access control (MAC)portion of the frame is not decoded or the MAC portion of the frame doesnot include a MAC duration field, set one or more network allocationvectors (NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field.

In Example 14, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-13optionally include where the wireless device is one from the followinggroup: an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 14 ismissing parent: 14 is missing parent: 802.1 lax access point, an IEEE802.1 lax station, an IEEE 14 is missing parent: 14 is missing parent:802.11 station, and an IEEE 802.11 access point.

In Example 15, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-14optionally include transceiver circuitry coupled to the processingcircuitry.

Example 16 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thatstores instructions for execution by one or more processors, theinstructions to configure the one or more processors to cause a wirelessdevice to: decode a preamble portion of a frame; and if the preambleportion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) Afield (HE-SIG-A) including a transmission opportunity (TXOP) durationfield and a media access control (MAC) portion of the frame is notdecoded, set one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs) based on theTXOP duration field.

In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 16 optionally includeswhere the instructions further configure the one or more processors tocause the wireless device to: decode a media access control (MAC)portion of the frame; and if the MAC portion of the frame comprises aMAC duration field, set the one or more network allocation vectors(NAVs) based on the MAC duration field.

In Example 18, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 16-17optionally include where the TXOP duration field comprises fewer bitsthan the MAC duration field.

In Example 19, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 16-18optionally include where the instructions further configure the one ormore processors to cause the wireless processing to: if a MAC portion ofthe frame is not decoded, and a basic service set (BSS) color of theframe indicates the frame is an inter-BSS frame, and if there is onlyone NAV, then update the only one NAV with the TXOP duration if the TXOPduration is greater than the NAV; and if there is more than one NAV,update a regular NAV of the one or more NAVs with the TXOP duration ifthe TXOP duration is greater than the regular NAV.

Example 20 is a method performed by a wireless device, the methodincluding: decoding a preamble portion of a frame; and if the preambleportion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) Afield (HE-SIG-A) including a transmission opportunity (TXOP) durationfield and a media access control (MAC) portion of the frame is notdecoded, setting one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs) based onthe TXOP duration field.

In Example 21, the subject matter of Example 20 optionally includesdecoding a MAC portion of the frame; and setting the one or more networkallocation vectors (NAVs) based on the MAC duration field if the MACportion of the frame comprises a MAC duration field.

Example 22 is an apparatus of a wireless device including: memory; andprocessing circuitry coupled to the memory, the processing circuitryconfigured to: decode a preamble portion of a frame; and if the preambleportion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) Afield (HE-SIG-A) including a transmission opportunity (TXOP) durationfield, set one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs) based on theTXOP duration field.

In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 22 optionally includestransceiver circuitry coupled to the processing circuitry; and, one ormore antennas coupled to the transceiver circuitry.

Example 24 is an apparatus of a wireless device, the apparatusincluding: means for decoding a preamble portion of a frame; and if thepreamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal(SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) including a transmission opportunity (TXOP)duration field, and a media access control (MAC) portion of the frame isnot decoded, means for setting one or more network allocation vectors(NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field.

In Example 25, the subject matter of Example 24 optionally includes ifthe MAC portion of the frame is decoded and the MAC portion comprises aMAC duration field, means for setting the one or more NAVs based on theMAC duration field.

In Example 26, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-25optionally include where the MAC portion is a physical layer convergence(PLCP) service data unit (PSDU).

In Example 27, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 25-26optionally include where the TXOP duration field comprises fewer bitsthan the MAC duration field.

In Example 28, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 25-27optionally include where the frame comprises a receiver address (RA),and further including: means for refraining from setting the one or moreNAVs if the RA is equal to a MAC address of the wireless device.

In Example 29, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-28optionally include if the frame is a trigger frame, and the wirelessdevice is indicated in an information field of the trigger frame, meansfor refraining from setting the one or more NAVs.

In Example 30, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-29optionally include if the frame is a multi-user (MU) request-to-send(RTS) frame, and the wireless device is indicated in an informationfield of the MU-RTS frame, means for refraining from setting the one ormore NAVs.

In Example 31, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-30optionally include if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded and abasic service set (BSS) color field of the frame indicates the frame isan intra-BSS frame, and if there is only one NAV, then means forupdating the only one NAV with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration isgreater than the only one NAV; and if there is more than one NAV, meansfor updating an intra-BSS NAV of the one or more NAVs with the TXOPduration if the TXOP duration is greater than the intra-BSS NAV.

In Example 32, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-31optionally include if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded, and theframe is a not in response to a trigger frame from the wireless device,and if a basic service set (BSS) color of the frame indicates the frameis an intra-BSS frame, and there is only one NAV, means for updating theNAV with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greater than the NAV;and if there is more than one NAV, means for updating an intra-BSS NAVof the one or more NAVs with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration isgreater than the intra-BSS NAV.

In Example 33, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-32optionally include where the processing circuitry is further configuredto: if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded, and a basic serviceset (BSS) color of the frame indicates the frame is an inter-BSS frame,and if there is only one NAV, then means for updating the only one NAVwith the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greater than the NAV; andif there is more than one NAV, means for updating a regular NAV of theone or more NAVs with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greaterthan the regular NAV.

In Example 34, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-33optionally include means for determining the frame is an inter basicservice set (BSS) frame or an unclassified frame; and if a MAC portionof the frame is not decoded, and the one or more NAVs is a regular NAVand an intra-BSS NAV, means for updating the regular NAV with the TXOPduration if the TXOP duration is greater than the regular NAV.

In Example 35, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-34optionally include if the frame is in response to a trigger frametransmitted by the wireless device, means for ignoring the TXOPduration.

In Example 36, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-35optionally include if the preamble portion of the frame comprises ahigh-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) including atransmission opportunity (TXOP) duration field and a media accesscontrol (MAC) portion of the frame is not decoded or the MAC portion ofthe frame does not include a MAC duration field, means for setting oneor more network allocation vectors (NAVs) based on the TXOP durationfield.

In Example 37, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-36optionally include where the wireless device is one from the followinggroup: an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 37 ismissing parent: 37 is missing parent: 802.1 lax access point, an IEEE802.1 lax station, an IEEE 37 is missing parent: 37 is missing parent:802.11 station, and an IEEE 802.11 access point.

In Example 38, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-37optionally include means for sending and receiving radio signals.

Example 39 is a method performed by an apparatus of a wireless device,the method including: decoding a preamble portion of a frame; and if thepreamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal(SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) including a transmission opportunity (TXOP)duration field, setting one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs)based on the TXOP duration field.

In Example 40, the subject matter of Example 39 optionally includes ifthe MAC portion of the frame is decoded and the MAC portion comprises aMAC duration field, setting the one or more NAVs based on the MACduration field.

Example 41 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thatstores instructions for execution by one or more processors, theinstructions to configure the one or more processors to cause a wirelessdevice to: decode a preamble portion of a frame; and if the preambleportion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) Afield (HE-SIG-A) including a transmission opportunity (TXOP) durationfield, set one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs) based on theTXOP duration field.

In Example 42, the subject matter of Example 41 optionally includeswhere the instructions further configure the one or more processors tocause the wireless device to: if the MAC portion of the frame is decodedand the MAC portion comprises a MAC duration field, setting the one ormore NAVs based on the MAC duration field.

Example 43 is an apparatus of a wireless device, the apparatusincluding: means for decoding a preamble portion of a frame; and if thepreamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal(SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) including a transmission opportunity (TXOP)duration field, means for setting one or more network allocation vectors(NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field.

In Example 44, the subject matter of Example 43 optionally includes ifthe MAC portion of the frame is decoded and the MAC portion comprises aMAC duration field, means for setting the one or more NAVs based on theMAC duration field.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b)requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the natureand gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scopeor meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus of a wireless device comprising:memory; and processing circuitry coupled to the memory, the processingcircuitry configured to: decode a preamble portion of a frame; and ifthe preamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE)signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) comprising a transmission opportunity(TXOP) duration field, and a media access control (MAC) portion of theframe is not decoded, set one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs)based on the TXOP duration field.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe processing circuitry is further configured to: if the MAC portion ofthe frame is decoded and the MAC portion comprises a MAC duration field,set the one or more NAVs based on the MAC duration field.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the MAC portion is a physical layerconvergence (PLCP) service data unit (PSDU).
 4. The apparatus of claim2, wherein the TXOP duration field comprises fewer bits than the MACduration field.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the frame comprisesa receiver address (RA), and wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to: refrain from setting the one or more NAVs if the RA isequal to a MAC address of the wireless device.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: if theframe is a trigger frame, and the wireless device is indicated in aninformation field of the trigger frame refrain from setting the one ormore NAVs.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitryis further configured to: if the frame is a multi-user (MU)request-to-send (RTS) frame, and the wireless device is indicated in aninformation field of the MU-RTS frame, refrain from setting the one ormore NAVs.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitryis further configured to: if a MAC portion of the frame is not decodedand a basic service set (BSS) color field of the frame indicates theframe is an intra-BSS frame, and if there is only one NAV, and if theTXOP duration is greater than the only one NAV then update the only oneNAV with the TXOP duration; and if there is more than one NAV, update anintra-BSS NAV of the one or more NAVs with the TXOP duration if the TXOPduration is greater than the intra-BSS NAV.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: if a MACportion of the frame is not decoded, and the frame is a not in responseto a trigger frame from the wireless device, and if a basic service set(BSS) color of the frame indicates the frame is an intra-BSS frame, andthere is only one NAV, and if the TXOP duration is greater than the NAV,then update the NAV with the TXOP duration; and if there is more thanone NAV, update an intra-BSS NAV of the one or more NAVs with the TXOPduration if the TXOP duration is greater than the intra-BSS NAV.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to: if a MAC portion of the frame is not decoded, and a basicservice set (BSS) color of the frame indicates the frame is an inter-BSSframe, and if there is only one NAV, and if the TXOP duration is greaterthan the NAV, then update the only one NAV with the TXOP duration; andif there is more than one NAV, update a regular NAV of the one or moreNAVs with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greater than theregular NAV.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processingcircuitry is further configured to: determine the frame is an interbasic service set (BSS) frame or an unclassified frame; and if a MACportion of the frame is not decoded, and the one or more NAVs is aregular NAV and an intra-BSS NAV, and if the TXOP duration is greaterthan the regular NAV, then update the regular NAV with the TXOPduration.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitryis further configured to: if the frame is in response to a trigger frametransmitted by the wireless device, ignore the TXOP duration.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to: if the preamble portion of the frame comprises ahigh-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) comprising atransmission opportunity (TXOP) duration field and a media accesscontrol (MAC) portion of the frame is not decoded or the MAC portion ofthe frame does not include a MAC duration field, set one or more networkallocation vectors (NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is one from thefollowing group: an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers(IEEE) 802.1 lax access point, an IEEE 802.11 lax station, an IEEE802.11 station, and an IEEE 802.11 access point.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising transceiver circuitry coupled to theprocessing circuitry.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors,the instructions to configure the one or more processors to cause awireless device to: decode a preamble portion of a frame; and if thepreamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency (HE) signal(SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) comprising a transmission opportunity (TXOP)duration field and a media access control (MAC) portion of the frame isnot decoded, set one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs) based onthe TXOP duration field.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configurethe one or more processors to cause the wireless device to: decode amedia access control (MAC) portion of the frame; and if the MAC portionof the frame comprises a MAC duration field, set the one or more networkallocation vectors (NAVs) based on the MAC duration field.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein theTXOP duration field comprises fewer bits than the MAC duration field.19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16,wherein the instructions further configure the one or more processors tocause the wireless processing to: if a MAC portion of the frame is notdecoded, and a basic service set (BSS) color of the frame indicates theframe is an inter-BSS frame, and if there is only one NAV, then updatethe only one NAV with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration is greaterthan the NAV; and if there is more than one NAV, update a regular NAV ofthe one or more NAVs with the TXOP duration if the TXOP duration isgreater than the regular NAV.
 20. A method performed by a wirelessdevice, the method comprising: decoding a preamble portion of a frame;and if the preamble portion of the frame comprises a high-efficiency(HE) signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) comprising a transmissionopportunity (TXOP) duration field and a media access control (MAC)portion of the frame is not decoded, setting one or more networkallocation vectors (NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, further comprising: decoding a MAC portion of theframe; and setting the one or more network allocation vectors (NAVs)based on the MAC duration field if the MAC portion of the framecomprises a MAC duration field.
 22. An apparatus of a wireless devicecomprising: memory; and processing circuitry coupled to the memory, theprocessing circuitry configured to: decode a preamble portion of aframe; and if the preamble portion of the frame comprises ahigh-efficiency (HE) signal (SIG) A field (HE-SIG-A) comprising atransmission opportunity (TXOP) duration field, set one or more networkallocation vectors (NAVs) based on the TXOP duration field.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 22, further comprising transceiver circuitry coupledto the processing circuitry; and, one or more antennas coupled to thetransceiver circuitry.